Smells Like Kurt Cobain

[Paul L. Maliszewski]

On April 5, 1995, Paul wrote:

>I wasn't aware of the similarities between the song people mentioned and
>the Nirvana hit, but isn't there another Pynchon ref on the Nevermind
>album?  I'm asking because I don't own it myself, but I seem to remember
>a line that's a paraphrase of the "just because you're paranoid, it
>doesn't mean they're not following you" bit.  Is someone in a position to
>check this (i.e. own a Nirvana album)?
>
>_________________________________________________________________________
>Paul Maliszewski

I've don't know about Nirvana, but I've heard a similar thing attributed to
a mad professor at Wesleyan, at the end of his long rant about the
CIA/Mason/Rosecrucian/Illuminati conspiracy that watches him, and it's,
"Just because you think you're being followed doesn't mean you're not," or
so.   Certainly Pynchoniac in spirit, even if it doesn't spring directly.
But let's not give Pynchon all the credit for being the father of every bit
of popular paranoia.

On the subject of conspiratorial cults-and I'm sorry to stray from the
music discussion, here-I've been thinking about the role of faith in GR,
the transfiguration of religious faith into faith in science/rationality/
empericism.  Seems like (and there may be a boatload of discussion about
his already, I try to avoid reading criticism) Pynchon sets up the same
kind of cults and secret orders within the greater framework of rational
faith as there are within religious systems.  I'm thinking especially about
the Pointsman and the Pavlovians: a group of seven revolving around a Big
Book with seemingly mystical powers.  There's also the Schwartzkommando,
and Pirate (I think it's Pirate, I don't have the book at hand, maybe it's
Mexico)  with his uncomprehending but total faith in probability, all a
bunch of supposedly rational people running around chasing a ghostrocket
with utter religious zeal.  Does anyone know about specific correspondences
between these cults and others outside GR, real or fictionary?  A friend
told me about some secret mystic fraternal society made up
disproportionately of US Navy radar operators.
(Which Pynchon was at some point, wasn't he?  USN radar op. I mean)

Thanks, hope to hear some discussion off the subject of Rolling Stone
interviews.

Colin Murphy  <murco at mail.utexas.edu>